Custom Software Hourly Rates: Singapore vs Vietnam (2026)

Local software agencies in Singapore commonly charge S$90–150 per hour (≈$70–115/hour). FutureTech, with its engineering team based in Vietnam, bills $10–18/hour for long-term projects and $12–22/hour for short-term work, 4–6 times less at comparable quality, with a documented process and full source code ownership.

What do local Singapore agencies charge per hour?

Agencies staffed on-site in Singapore typically bill S$90–150 per hour, roughly $70–115. That rate reflects Singapore's tech salary benchmarks, office rent, and CPF and statutory obligations, all of which flow into the client invoice.

At those rates, a mid-size project running around 900 development hours lands at S$81,000–135,000 (≈$63,000–103,500) before any scope changes. That is a legitimate number for teams that need developers physically on-site daily or operate under strict data residency requirements.

What does FutureTech charge per hour for Vietnam-delivered projects?

FutureTech bills $10–18/hour for long-term projects (over 6 months) and $12–22/hour for short-term engagements (1–6 months); the blended rate for a standard team is about $14/hour long-term and $17/hour short-term. These figures derive directly from published team rates of $1,500–2,900 per person per month divided by 160 working hours, with no hidden fees.

For the same 900-hour mid-size project, the short-term blended rate of roughly $17/hour puts the cost near $15,300, a quarter to a sixth of a local agency quote for the same scope. The model keeps a project manager working Singapore hours, with clear contracts and IP ownership, while development, QA, and DevOps are handled by the Vietnam-based team under a documented SDLC.

The lower rate does not mean lower assurance. FutureTech is a Vietnam-based software company built around serving Singapore clients: data security is handled to an ISO 27001-certified information security standard, communication runs in fluent English on Singapore business hours, and every engagement commits to a delivery timeline with clear acceptance milestones and 100% source-code and IP handover. You are not trading away security, deadlines, or day-to-day contact to save four to six times on the rate; you are only removing Singapore's overhead cost.

Rate comparison table: Singapore agency vs FutureTech

Side by side, the gap concentrates in overhead and location costs, not in engineering seniority or quality controls.

Factor	Singapore local agency	FutureTech (Vietnam-based team)
Hourly rate	S$90–150/h (≈$70–115)	$10–18/h long-term · $12–22/h short-term
Blended standard team	≈$85–90/h	~$14/h long-term · ~$17/h short-term
Mid-size project, 900 hours	≈$63,000–103,500	≈$15,300 (short-term blended)
Team location	Fully Singapore-based	Engineers in Vietnam, PM on SG hours
QA / review process	Varies by vendor	Documented SDLC, peer review, test gates
Information security	Varies by vendor	ISO 27001-certified standard
Delivery commitment	Per contract	Committed timeline, acceptance milestones
Communication	On-site, SG hours	English, on SG business hours
Source code & IP ownership	Per contract	100% client-owned, stated in contract
Annual maintenance	Varies by vendor	15–20% of contract value

Why is the gap 4–6 times without cutting corners?

The rate gap comes from cost structure, not from a stripped-down process. The three biggest differences between the two markets are engineer salary benchmarks (the largest factor), Singapore office rent, and CPF contributions plus statutory obligations for on-site staff. All of that difference passes straight through to the hourly rate the client pays.

FutureTech's Vietnam team follows the same estimation, sprint, and QA process on every engagement, with the seniority mix (lead, mid, QA, PM) allocated by project complexity, not compressed to hit a lower number. This is the economic logic that has driven offshore delivery for two decades: the labor market sets the base rate, while engineering discipline sets the quality.

Should you bill hourly or take a fixed-price quote?

Hourly billing (Time & Material) fits work where requirements are still evolving; a fixed-price quote fits projects with a defined scope; the dedicated team model, billed monthly, fits long-running engagements where you steer the roadmap.

Most Singapore businesses on a first build are best served by a fixed-price quote derived from an hourly estimate: hours per module × the applicable rate, plus PM and QA allocation. The cost is locked before development starts, with milestone-based payments. Teams that need continuous iteration (product roadmaps, phased ERP rollouts) get better economics from dedicated rates of $1,500–2,900 per person per month with 5–10% team-size discounts.

FAQ

Is $14/hour the final rate for every project?

No. It is the blended reference rate of a standard team on a long-term engagement. Actual rates fall within $10–18/hour long-term or $12–22/hour short-term depending on seniority mix and complexity; the exact figure follows a requirements review.

Does a lower hourly rate mean slower delivery?

Not necessarily. Speed depends on team size, sprint cadence, and scope clarity more than on the rate itself. A well-scoped project at $14/hour can ship on the same timeline as an equivalent Singapore-local engagement.

Can the EDG grant apply to Vietnam-delivered projects?

Potentially, yes. EDG supports up to 50% of qualifying costs and has no pre-approved vendor list, so Singapore businesses can appoint FutureTech; the project may only start after approval. PSG covers only pre-scoped packaged solutions, so it generally does not apply to fully custom builds.

What should I compare besides the hourly rate?

The rate alone doesn't capture QA rigor, communication structure, or contract protections. Compare what's included: the code review process, an information security standard such as ISO 27001, communication on Singapore business hours in English, a committed delivery timeline with acceptance milestones, a named technical lead accountable for architecture, and explicit IP ownership and source code handover terms.

How is the final quote calculated from the hourly rate?

Estimated hours per module are multiplied by the applicable rate, then adjusted for PM and QA allocation. The result is a fixed-scope quote, the number most clients use for budgeting and approval.

Reference pricing — an exact quote follows a free scoping session.

Want to see how these rates translate into a real project quote? Book a free scoping session with FutureTech at ftech.ltd and get an estimate based on your actual feature set.